Wednesday, September 28, 2016

My Political Thought since July 4th

As a working musician, I've had a very busy schedule this summer and, as such, blogging has taken a real back seat. But several of my friends and acquaintances have asked me to clarify and add to my political opinions recently. On social media, I have become a rather vocal proponent for vocal voter abstention, while demanding reform of our system. A very good friend recently challenged me to consider our duty as voters. I feel this is a very important topic, and while time constraints preclude properly written posts, here are some quotes pulled from my Facebook posts and correspondence that might help clarify my evolving position.

From a Facebook Post published earlier this summer:

One of the most remarkable accomplishments of the American
two-party system is that it has managed to convince both ordinary liberals and
ordinary conservatives of mediocre intellect (or less) that they are in fact
extraordinary, highly intelligent, intellectually superior to those who
disagree with them, original, and individualistic, when in fact they are uniform,
unimaginative, predictable, and allow themselves to be ushered down a
predetermined path on borrowed ideas theyassume are their own. Almost none of them step back and
question the fundamental assumptions of the system itself, and almost none of
them ever realize that along with a manipulation of their ideals, self-image,
employment circumstances, and fears, they are being mostly used for raw power
on both sides (which don't look much different from each other, and who do
basically the same things when they acquire power).

#ConscientiousObjection

From a July 4th Facebook Post:

At Mass yesterday, "America the Beautiful" was the
recessional. We were at a parish where just about nobody sings anything, which
is always awkward for a musical family, as we tend to sing everything...or at
least the Dad of the family does (which probably embarrasses my kids). When in
those silent parish situations, I try to sing anyway, but very softly (Mass
isn't supposed to be a solo performance, and I have neither ax to grind nor
point to make...just trying to lift my soul). Now
I'm okay with "America the Beautiful", for what it's worth, as a
tune...it's alright...not great, but hey...still, when we got to:

...I couldn't do it. I'm just not going to sing that. The
history isn't anywhere near that pretty, and to sing it would make me nauseous.
So I stopped. Oddly enough, behind us, bellowing away with a full, excellent
sounding voice, was a guy who hadn't sung a word the entire Mass. He and his
family sang every verse of this tune, though, with zest--as did perhaps a
majority, finally, of this chronically silent parish. On his way out, the
zealous patriot glared at me.

I've never glared at anyone for not singing the Gloria or the
Sanctus, which, to my mind are infinitely more important (and more to the
point, speak directly to the reason we're there on Sunday). Seems to me, people
ought to make sure they know what they're actually worshiping. The worship of
America is a pretty bad idea.

From a July Facebook Post, in response to a question from a friend about the efficacy of voter abstention:

From my point of
view, neither Clinton and Trump, nor Democrats and Republicans, can be
considered opposites in any meaningful sense of the word. Both are dominated by
materialistic outlooks, both are ultimately militaristic parties, and even if
they protest they aren't materialists in philosophic sheen, they are in practice.
(If we judge by their fruits, we're looking at the same poisonous tree).

To answer your questions about abstaining, and whether it is selfish or has
any efficacy... Hypothetically speaking, if the choice is between Hitler and
Stalin, abstaining is the only moral option, in my opinion--a refusal to give
the election legitimacy is the only card left the moral voter. And while I
wouldn't say we're forced into a Hitler or Stalin choice, exactly, both choices
this year are so immoral I might as well be in that situation. To vote for a
third party candidate would only be to validate the system another way. So, for
me, it's not selfish but the the only moral choice. (I realize this thinking
isn't likely to be popular, but I've never worried about that).

Now, as to whether abstaining 'accomplishes' anything. In a practical, outward
political sense, maybe not. But as a psychologically and
morally freeing factor in an individual sense, I've already felt its positive
effects. Since my 'Declaration of Independence' on July 4th, I've felt more
free to comment on the injustices I see, because I'm not bound to defend the
immoralities of either party which by voting for we all invested in, to some
degree or another. I'm no longer engaging in the false hopes extended by these
intensely dishonest parties in this rigged, dishonest system. What if everyone
else made this choice? Then we might get somewhere on a societal level and it
WOULD have an impact. But even if I persuade exactly no one to join me in moral
withholding of their vote, *I* am more free...and even one person thinking and
acting more freely in this society is a net gain.